You Don't Have to be an Expert

I work with amazing teachers every day. They do incredible things in their classes that really make an impact on their students learning. When I see these things I often end up saying to myself  “I wish I had known about that” or “I really want to try that”.

Imagine if everyone shared their best tools, tips & tricks etc. with their peers?  I think you would end up with one amazing school. “Sharing” does occur in small pockets but teachers, in general, do not share with large groups of people. Why? I can think of two reasons. The first is time - teaching is an incredibly busy profession and teachers often have every minute of the day filled. The second is mindset. Many teachers feel that they need to be an “expert” on a certain topic before they would even consider sharing their knowledge with others.

The reality is that most of us don’t have the time and/or desire to become an expert. When I attend a conference session or PD activity, I want the presenter to be “knowledgeable” about their specific topic - nothing more. If I get one or two take-aways (tips, ideas, resources etc.) then I’m happy. I don’t mind if the presenter doesn’t know everything either, just so long as they are honest and upfront about it.

When I speak to groups of teachers, I begin my presentations by saying that they should learn at least one or two new things today and that I will do my best to answer everyone's questions. If I can’t, I say that I will search for an answer and get back to the person at a later date. Often someone else in the room can provide an answer or at least some insight into a possible solution. I have found that people attending my sessions appreciate my honesty when I can’t provide an answer.

After presentations people often ask how they can become a “presenter” and what qualifications they need to have. My response is simple: you don’t need any special qualifications - you just need to be knowledgeable about a topic. If you think other teachers could benefit from what you know, you are definitely qualified to share your knowledge with others. If you find the prospect of “sharing” daunting, I suggest the you start by sharing with a small group of your peers. Good luck!